He first joined the BBC's Third Programme in 1952 discovering his job was "simply a mouth opening and shutting in this tiny little studio in the double basement of Broadcasting House". He left in 1960, but returned in 1964 when attitudes were changing; the Third's announcers were now sharing office space with broadcasters from the Light Programme.[1][3]
He wrote the biography of the Arabist Owen Tweedy titled Gathering Moss, published 1967.[4] During the 1970s, he became one of the most familiar voices on Radio 3, and "an accident-prone but haughtily unflappable persona"[1] evolved. Hans Keller recalled Crowe's "inspired" opening of the network in June 1971 with the words: "Good morning to you. It's seven O'clock I'm afraid".[4] On another occasion, when the Greenwich Time Signal was accidentally heard over The Hebrides overture (aka, Fingal's Cave) he commented: "I do hope the Mendelssohn didn't spoil your enjoyment of the pips".[2]
Crowe retired from the BBC in 1982. Later he worked for the South African Broadcasting Corporation where he presented a classical music programme for three months each year.[2]
Death
He died at his home in Pickering, North Yorkshire, England where he lived with his second wife, Elizabeth Cooper.[2]
References
^ abc"Tom Crowe". The Telegraph. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
^ abcd"Tom Crowe". The Times. London. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
